Away at Eton in 2011 Cricketer Cup

We have been drawn to play Old Etonians at Eton in the first round of the 2011 Cricketer Cup on Sunday, June 12. If we win that then we are again away in the second round at either Wellington or Stowe on June 26. For the full draw, click here.

There are two new sides in the 2011 competition, with Old Eastbournians, who have enjoyed considerable success in the Cricket World Trophy, and Old Bedfordians replacing Lancing Rovers and Old Westminsters. The decision of the committee to make changes was largely influenced by the success of the Old Cranleighans when we were brought in to the tournament in 2007.

Old Westminsters were one of the 16 founder members in 1967 but have by some way the worst record, with only seven wins in 44 years. Lancing, who joined in 1969, have fared slightly better with 19 wins in 42 years but they failed to raise an XI for their first-round tie at Oundle this season.

For Lancing, traditionally one of our strongest opponents, it is a sign of how the school’s cricketing fortunes have slipped. Between 1963 and 1984 we never once beat them, and our in at the end of the 1984 cricket week, completing our ninth straight victory, was considered the highlight of the season and an indication of the strength of our side.

At the final on Sunday, Old Malvernians, who beat us in the first round, defeated Oundle Rovers by 73 runs to take the title for the seventh time. Here is the report from the Cricketer Cup site.
“Oundle won the toss and asked Malvern to bat, The wicket was damped and there was every indication that the ball would seam and swing. And so it proved as The Old Malvernians soon found themselves at 12-3 with Patrick Foster (3-33) making the early breakthroughs. Rebuilding was required and this came in the shape of Mark Hardinges (43) and Will Gifford (49). With 5 wickets down pundists around the ground were thinking that 180 would be the most Malvern could expect but David Nash (55 not out) and Jonny Cartwright (35 off 18 balls) had other ideas andtogether they took the score to a more than respectable 209.

“In reply Oundle started briskly but the loss of Craig Smith was a big blow and besides Cameron Wake (41) noone seemed to relish the challenge. Tight bowling from Jonathan Ashworth (3-18 and Olly Griffiths (2-11 in 8 overs) put an and to any fightback and Old Malvernians in the end ran out easy winners.

“After the horrific downpours on Saturday we were lucky to get a game in and our thanks to the Shenley groundstaff for their efforts to get the game on. In the end the sun shone and we look forward to returning in 2011.”

Under par on a soggy Jubilee

Radley Rangers 141 for 4 (27.1overs: Goudie 2-58; Harman 1-15) beat Old Cranleighans 140 for 5 (35 overs: Crump T 42*, Langmead W 28)

Despite heavy overnight rain we were able to get a game of sorts on a soggy Jubilee, albeit one of the limited-overs variety increasingly the norm but less than popular with some of the old guard.


Damien Hill won the toss and batted but, by his own admission, “I put too many youngsters too high up the order and the innings stagnated”. We limited to 60 for 2 after 20 of the 35 overs, failing to put pressure on the fielders with some very ordinary running. Will Langmead, who broke the all-time record for the most runs in a school season in 2010, made 28 but it was only when Tom Crump (42*) came in that things got moving, and David Bugge contributed a breezy 15 at the close, rolling back the clock with a lusty lofted cover-drive in the penultimate over.

Paddy Harman opened the bowling, getting through all his seven overs in one burst, maintaining a good line with a couple of maidens and accounting for Radley’s opener in his final over – caught behind by Langmead. Our other opening bowler, Will Jordan, got dispatched, and after seven overs Radley were 60 for 0 and seemingly set for a comprehensive win.

Goudie did a good job of slowing the rate down, as did Hill whose seven overs only cost 11 runs, but the asking rate by then was so low as to be academic. Jumbo Jupp took a wicket with a long hop and the game ended when Bugge’s first ball was thumped to the boundary.

“We were well beaten,” Hill admitted. “But it was a decent fightback after a stodgy batting display and rocketering (sic) start to Radley’s innings.”

Heather Dean honoured by Surrey

Heartfelt congratulations to Heather Dean who won a Lifetime Achievement award from Surrey CCC for her remarkable work for Merrow CC. Heather picked up the award from Alec Stewart in a ceremony at The Oval.

The citation read: “Heather Dean is described as the ‘lifeblood’ of Merrow CC, with her nominator seriously questioning whether the club would have remained in being without her commitment. She has been Honorary Secretary of the club for 25 years – assisting ten different chairmen – and has been scoring for 41 years. She has been the club’s contact for the council, the league, the nursery school – which shares their premises – and to a large extent with Surrey CCC. She has also dealt with licensing and has taken long term responsibility for the club’s catering activities. In recent times, Heather has been at the heart of the club’s activities in raising grant funding for the many improvements that have taken place at Merrow in recent years. To quote her nominator: “She has been the first to put others forward for recognition. She has sought none for herself. It is time the balance was redressed.”

A large number of Cranleighans have played for Merrow over the years and all would vouch for the remarkable input into the club made by Heather.

Cryptics offer little fight

Old Cranleighans 277-7 (Howard 79, Starling 50) beat Cryptics 139 (Henderson 3-14) by 138 runs


This was an OC side made up predominantly of those legends from the glorious ’99 season. Out of retirement came Gareth Starling (50) who compiled a slow but necessary half century, Will Howard (79) who scored some quick runs, including belting the hapless opening bowler into the pavilion for three sixes, and Andy Houston (3 for 17).

The Cryptics, with nine men, were always up against it despite having two OCs field for them on rotation. After the declaration Ed Henderson (3 for 14) dismissed the top three with further wickets coming from Houston, Goudie (2 for 21) and Rich Hume (2 for 30).

It was a thoroughly professional and enjoyable performance from the OC’s.

A mixed bag

Ed Henderson looks back on the 2010 OC cricket week

Old Cranleighans 217-6 (Ashton 94*) beat Eton Ramblers 213-7 by three wickets
An earlier-than-usual 10.30am start at the behest of the Etonians because they wanted to be home in time for the World Cup final was rather undermined when only two of the opposition were present at the scheduled beginning, but the game was underway before 11am. A mature 94* from Rich Ashton saw us knock off the Ramblers 214 in the last of the 40 overs. We had put in one of the tidiest OC fielding performances for some time with tight bowling from Ed Henderson, Paddy Harman, Mike Chetwode and Nigel Radbourne interspersed with regular wickets. We kept up with the run rate but no one bedded in to support Ashton despite contributions from Johnny Gates and Simon Copleston and a steady supply of wides.

Old Cranleighans beat Old Millfieldians by three wickets
A talented OC team of both youth and experience played in the first match between the two sides, with this fixture surprisingly being Old Millfieldian’s first venture into the realm of old boy’s cricket. Led by Jonny Gates, we were put into bat first on a flat Jubilee pitch and got off to a poor start, losing early wickets to a decent up front OMs seam attack. Rich Ashton battled for a period taking the home side to 139 for 8. Gatesy provided a gutsy lower order recovery with the help of much under rated Mike Roper but eventually ran out of batting partners just short of a much deserved fifty. With a more defendable total set, we were able to attack from the off in the field, with ‘veteran’ Henry Watkinson taking the wicket of a dangerous looking West Countryman with late swing and deceptive pace. It appeared that Millfield were also keen to get off to the Merry’s BBQ as they failed to provide any sort of spirited fight against tight bowling from Chetwode, Matt Crump and Graeme Brown. We finished the victors with runs and overs to spare, surely putting pain to the match-fixing allegations faced by Chris Preece early in the week!


Old Cranleighans 136 (Ashton 44, Crump T 36) lost to Old Georgians 140 (Crump M 5-34, Waters D 4-43 by four runs
On paper, a thrilling low-scoring match. In reality, a disappointing display by the club as we turned up with eight men despite some lengthy ringing round after a string of high-profile drop-outs the previous day. Several of the eight that did make it were noticeably the worse for attending the Merry BBQ and subsequent night in Guildford. That we kept OGs to such a low score was thanks almost entirely to a hungover Matt Crump (5-34) and a marathon 21-over spell from David Waters (4 for 43). With Crump comatose in the changing room, his team-mates offered little fight as we lost five quick wickets, but Ashton and Tom crump clawed us to within sight of an unlikely win.

Old Cranleighans 298 for 6 beat Grasshoppers 265 by 33 runs
Report to follow

Old Cranleighans v Charterhouse Friars
A disappointing day which was called off purely because the covers had not been put on leaving the pitch exposed to heavy overnight rain.

Old Cranleighans v Old Tonbridgians
Report to follow

Old Cranleighansv Old Douai
For the second year running our opponents failed to raise a side.

Old Cranleighans 295 for 6 (Copleston S 134, Wilson 61, Hill 54) drew with Buccaneers 275 for 8
Another high-scoring game is testament to the wicket and fast outfield on Jubilee. Simon Copleston (134*) and Dave Wilson (61) got us off to a fast start with Wilson hitting powerfully against some average bowling. Copleston started slowly and had only reached 54 by lunch but he knew that his time to cash in was to come and, supported by Damien Hill (54) he pushed on after lunch allowing captain Henderson to declare at 3.30. Copleston, who plays rarely now he is based in Dubai, completed a remarkable week by completing his sixth OC hundred, tying him with Nigel Paul who also made that number for the club. The Buccaneers were in the game to the extent Henderson wanted them to be in it, but dropped catches meant bowling them out was hard. Tom Basset broke the opening stand on the stroke of tea for his first OC wicket. After tea, recent leaver, Andrew Goudie bowled a very long and impressive spell of slow left arm bowling they earned him four deserved wickets. Chetwode produced a fine spell at the other end as the match entered the last 20 overs and wickets began to fall more regularly. However, the dropped catches meant that we were two wickets light of what would have been a fine win.